Sixth generation 2023 Honda CR V unveiled after on a long wait, gets hybrid powertrain with a rugged design
Honda has, at last, officially unveiled the sixth generation 2023 CR V for the global markets. The India-bound SUV is expected to be launched abroad this year itself.
The new generation model looks no way related to its predecessor that was also sold in India. The front chrome strip of the fifth generation model has gone for good. Though the headlights almost remain the same as the older model, they are now sleeker and longer.
The LED units are darkened for a meaner look and they also gel well with the all-black grille with Honda logo at the center. A matte black bottom cladding runs throughout the car offering it rugged looks.
There are various sensors/cameras on all the sides of the body which are for the various drive-assist systems of the SUV. The hybrid variant specifically has chrome surrounds on the front air intake channels and a hybrid tag at the rear below the CR-V inscription.
The all-new CR-V is 69 mm longer and nearly 13 mm wider than its predecessor. The wheelbase is also longer by 41 mm.
On the inside, the 2023 model features drastic changes. It sports a free-standing 7 or 9 inch infotainment system (based on variants) for the first time in line with the competition.
The instrument cluster is also a 7-inch digital display unit. There’s a mesh like grille strip that runs across the dashboard and it sports the AC vents.
Because of this unified design, looking at the dashboard, we won’t be able to notice the AC vents. But, it’s quite a polarising design. The free-standing display is on top of this mesh grille while the HVAC dials are below.
Earlier there used to be just 2 dials and a host of buttons for the AC, but, now, there are 3 dials and buttons between them. All these elements have made the dashboard look plain and simple. The gearshift console looks the same as before though.
The steering has got mild updates in the form of new contours and creases while the seats are nearly the same as before.
There’s more legroom for the rear seat passengers and a massive 745-litre cargo space in the trunk. With the rear seats folded, cargo space increases to a whooping 2166 litres.
On the features front, the 2023 CR-V gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Honda Sensing suite that includes a new wide-angle camera with a 90-degree field of view, a 120-degree radar system, blind-spot monitoring, Honda’s traffic jam assist with low-speed braking and sign, Honda’s real time AWD system with modes, and a hill descent control.
In the international markets, the CR-V will be offered in 4 trims – EX and EX-L with turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that exerts 190 HP, and Sport and Sport Touring with 2-liter 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain that produces 204 HP and 335 Nm.
In India, the CR-V was sold until the BS-6 norms got enforced in 2020. As the SUV didn’t sell well, Honda decided not to work on the BS-6 model. But that’s set to change with the introduction of the sixth generation model.
With almost all manufacturers stepping foot on to the lucrative D-segment with Mahindra’s upcoming Scorpio N, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara being the latest entrants, Honda is expected to follow suit.
Like Toyota and Maruti Suzuki, Honda’s strongest talking point would be its hybrid powerplant. The Japanese maker has already introduced the City’s hybrid variant, e:HEV.